Overflowing water rolls over main dam of Lower Subansiri project

A CORRESPONDENT

LAKHIMPUR: Creating havoc and an alarming threat of flood in the downstream area of the river Subansiri, the overflowing water in the catchment area of the Subansiri Lower Hydroelectric Project (SLHP) has been rolling over the main dam of the project since Friday night.

Notably, incessant rain lashed Arunachal Pradesh for the last two days along with its adjacent areas of Assam including Lakhimpur and Dhemaji district. Water has overflown in the catchment area of the SLHP, being constructed at Gerukamukh of Dhemaji district by NHPC Limited. As a result of it, the overflowing water started to roll over the main dam of the project from Friday evening.

Overflowing water has reportedly washed away the Diversion Tunnel-2 of the mega dam project with 2000 MW installation capacity. Notably, there are five Diversion Tunnels in the project, which were constructed at a hill, made of soft sedimentary rock, projecting towards Assam, in order to plug the main dam. Out of them, Diversion Tunnel-2 collapsed at night on September 15.

On the next day when contacted, Vipin Gupta, the Executive Director of the SLHP said to this correspondent that the collapse of the Diversion Tunnel-2 would not affect the project and the downstream area of the river Subansiri. However, the overflowing water of the catchment area of the project managed to wash away the collapsed tunnel on Friday night.

On the other hand, Diversion Tunnel-5 of the project has also been lying non-functional for a long period. As a result of it, the massive force of overflowing water in the catchment area has reportedly been affecting the Diversion Tunnel-3 too at present. There is apprehension that the Diversion Tunnel-3 might also be washed away in near future affecting the hill made of soft rock. Sources said that the occurrence of minor and major landslide of the hill had been affecting the Diversion Tunnels creating threat to their existence and functioning capacity.

Also Read:  Assam: Incessant Rains Create Sinkhole on Left Bank of Lower Subansiri Project

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